Enhancements to FITEL® Fusion Splicer Line From OFS Promote Ease of Use

DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 2012 FTTH Conference & Expo, Booth #203 - OFS, a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of innovative fiber optic network products, has announced a number of product enhancements to its line of FITEL® hand-held fusion splicers.

The upgrades, which include a built-in battery recharger, a selectable display layout, and more user-friendly LCD monitors, further enhance the performance of the company's S123 Clad Alignment Splicer, the S153 Active Alignment Splicer, and the S178 Core Alignment Splicer.

The built-in battery recharger eliminates the need for carrying a separate external charger into the field. The recharger operates during fusion splicing, with a red icon indicating recharging status.

The selectable display layout enables users to select their preferred display style for viewing the fiber image during the splice operation. Users can choose from a conventional layout, a side-by-side display, and a top-to-bottom comparison, all at the flip of a software switch.

LCD monitors on the FITEL machines have been re-designed to provide even greater visibility while the windshield is open. The opening angle of the windshield has been slightly narrowed with no change to accessibility to the splice chamber.

These product enhancements continue OFS' tradition as a market leader in the development of ruggedized high-performance splicers for FTTH applications. OFS was first to market with this line of splicers in 2010, and the company believes these product upgrades help enable it to maintain its position as a leading supplier of reliable and intuitive machines for these applications.

The enhancements are the result of consultations with end users, who provided feedback on performance of the machines under real-world conditions, said Linda Dembowski, general manager of the company's Optical Connectivity Solutions business.

"There is no better source for product improvements than the product's users," Dembowski said. "OFS is dedicated to continuous improvement of our splicers based on proven, real-world experience."

These machines are part of OFS' full range of rugged hand-held fusion splicers offering speed, durability, and low loss in small, lightweight hand-held design. The machines are designed to endure harsh operating conditions by improving shock/impact resistance with rubber pads embedded on four corners of the splicer body. They also are water resistance-compliant to IPX2 and dust resistance-compliant to IP5X.

About OFS
OFS is a world-leading designer, manufacturer and provider of optical fiber, optical fiber cable, connectivity, FTTX and specialty photonics solutions.  Our marketing, sales, manufacturing and research teams provide forward-looking, innovative products and solutions in areas including Telecommunications, Medicine, Industrial Automation, Sensing, Government, Aerospace and Defense applications. We provide reliable, cost effective optical solutions to enable our customers to meet the needs of today's and tomorrow's digital and energy consumers and businesses. 

OFS' corporate lineage dates back to 1876 and includes technology powerhouses such as AT&T and Lucent Technologies. Today, OFS is owned by Furukawa Electric, a multi-billion dollar global leader in optical communications.

Headquartered in Norcross (near Atlanta) Georgia, U.S., OFS is a global provider with facilities in China, Denmark, Germany, Russia, and the United States.

For more information, please visit www.ofsoptics.com.

SOURCE OFS